The punching technique has become a favorite of anglers looking for big bass in thick cover on the California Delta.
The Delta’s abundant grass makes it a puncher’s paradise and tournaments are consistently won on the technique and many anglers are learning the power of it.
Jason Borofka shares some of his favorite punching rigs as well as some tips for punching on the Delta. National touring pros Jimmy Reese and Brent Ehrler also weighed in on what baits they like to punch on the Dirty D.
When and Where to Punch
Borofka admitted that he used to think punching was strictly a warm weather technique when the bass are in the thick cover hiding from the sun.
“I have learned that punching is a year-round thing on the Delta and you should always have at least one, or really two, punch setups on your deck at all times. It wins tournaments on the Delta during every month of the year,” he says.
The Basics
For most situations, Borofka rigs up 65-pound braid and gets to punching with a big weight.
“When it comes to weight sizes, use the very lightest you can get away with to just get it through the cover. Almost all of the fish bite it on the initial fall and having a big weight can hurt your hookset,” he shares and says that he generally uses anything between ¾- and 1 ½-ounce. “The big weights can pop into the mouth of a bass on a hookset and can cause to missed fish.” He also advises to always use a Snell knot to increase your odds of hooking a Delta giant.
Pressured Punching
One trick Borofka has learned through fishing pressured situations on the Delta is to rig up one punch rig with 25-pound fluorocarbon.
“Braid makes that ‘zipping’ sound when coming through the mat because it is coarse. Fluorocarbon doesn’t do that and I have seen times where you can definitely get more bites with fluoro,” says Borofka. “I still prefer braid because of all of the giant fish in the Delta, but sometimes you can go back through an area with your fluorocarbon and get an extra fish or two.”
Borofka’s Punching Baits
Jason Borofka spends a lot of time on the Delta and when he is punching, it is with either a 4.75” Yamamoto Flappin’ Hog or the Sanshouo.
“Not many people are punching the Sanshouo and people sometimes forget how many amphibians live in the delta,” shares Borofka when talking about the bait that resembles a salamander or waterdog.
RELATED: Sanshouo Video
Ehrler’s Favorite Punching Bait
“The Flappin’ Hog. Period,” Ehrler stated when asked what he likes to punch on the Delta. “It has the perfect profile, action, and glide as it falls through the mat.”
He prefers the larger 4.75” version and says overall the 1-ounce tungsten punching weight is the most versatile size. For colors, he keeps it simple with Green Pumpkin and Black and Blue being his top picks.
Ehrler hasn’t had a chance to punch the Delta with the new Yamamoto Cowboy since it was just recently released, but he thinks it could be a player.
“It has a big profile that appeals to big fish,” he says.
RELATED: Texas Rigging a Flappin’ Hog
Reese’s Punch Bait Picks
Reese relies on two main baits for punching on the Delta and varies them based on how thick the grass is. His top two picks are the Psycho Dad (shown) and Fat Ika.
“If it is really thick, I’ll rig up a Psycho Dad with a 1.5 or 2-ounce weight. The thin profile lets it get through the grass easily,” he says and adds that the bait also excels when the water is cold.
His favorite punching bait is the 4” Yamamoto Fat Ika.
“If it is sparser cover, the Ika is perfect. I throw it in Black and Blue the most, overall it is my favorite color for the Delta,” he shares.
READ RELATED: Beyond the Swimbait… How Jimmy Reese Approaches Clear Lake
Punch Skirt or Naked?
The use of a punch skirt allows a punch rig to have a bulkier appearance and many anglers have found that they give the fish a different look.
“I usually rig one up with a punch skirt and one without. You can give the bait two totally different profiles and mix it up if the fish are pressured and everyone is punching,” says Ehrler.
On the other hand, Borofka is not a punch skirt guy for most instances. The exception is when he wants a slower fall.
“Sometimes you will be fishing thinner canopies and see bluegill suspended just under the mat. This is a time when I would use a punch skirt to slow the fall. It also helps sometimes when you are fishing around that slimy moss because it helps to keep it off of the bait,” he shares.
There are many different bait options when it comes to punching the Delta and generally, it comes down to preference. The baits listed above will all catch their share of Delta bass and the biggest key is having the right approach and the correct gear to land a big bass in heavy cover.
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